The Georgetown Phase I study was only able to find nine suitable patients with MS who had sufficiently stable types of the illness to make conducting a research study worthwhile. Even then, four patients had to drop out of the study because of the effects of their disease or because of possible intensified progression of the disease. While three of the remaining five reported improvements in their condition, or 60 about percent, the numbers were too small to declare the treatment effectual. As the treatment does not promise a 'cure,' merely alleviation of symptoms, this too presents a problem given the study participant's symptoms were of pain, stiffness or tingling or weakness of their extremities. "We, however, could not objectively quantify improvements in symptoms such as pain and tingling," admitted the main researcher in charge of the study (Haran 2004).
Yet for seemingly every damming study, or inconclusive study, there are anecdotal accounts like 'Marie,' a Toronto woman who swears by the treatment and states that it helped her transition from a wheelchair to a walker and dramatically...
After living thirty years with the illness, she states that her improvement is not due to a spontaneous remission, but is a result of the bee therapy.
References
American Apitherapy Society. (2010.). Official Website. Retrieved March 1, 2010 at http://www.apitherapy.org/
Background facts: Bee sting therapy and MS. (2010). Alternative remedies. Discovery health.
Retrieved March 1, 2010 at http://health.discovery.com/centers/althealth/beetherapy/bkgsclerosis.html
Fifield, Kirsten. (2002, August 17). Bee stings tackle MS symptoms. Guelph Mercury.
Retrieved March 1, 2010 at http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/Sep2002/BeeStings.html
Haran, Julie. (2010, March 1). The buzz about bee sting therapy. Breakthrough Digest.
http://www.breakthroughdigest.com/html/alternative_1.html
Stachowiak, Julie. (2004, April 8). Bee venom therapy for MS. About.com. Alternative Medicine. Retrieved March 1, 2010 at http://ms.about.com/od/alternativemedicine/a/bee_stings.htm
